Boris Johnson is under mounting pressure today after fresh allegations he told aides he would rather let coronavirus “rip” than impose a second lockdown.
Mr Johnson also argued during a government debate in September that lockdowns were “mad” due to the severe impact on the economy, The Times reported.
It comes amid a growing furore after a number of sources were reported to have told how Mr Johnson said he was prepared to let “bodies pile high” rather than order a third shutdown.
The prime minister yesterday described the allegation as “total rubbish”.
Mr Johnson will conduct at a cabinet meeting later today and is expected to tell colleagues to focus on the issues of the day, such as Covid-19 and the economy.
The PM’s spokesman said the reported comments were false adding: “This is untrue and the PM has denied it… I’m not aware of anyone else making that statement.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was “astonished” by the reports adding: “Everybody would be deeply concerned, not least all those families who have lost someone in the pandemic.”
The prime minister was also strongly criticised by other opposition MPs in the House of Commons.
Mr Johnson is also facing mounting pressure over the cost of redecorating his Downing Street flat. Downing Street refused to say whether Mr Johnson received a loan from the Conservative Party to pay for renovations, but said any “gifts or benefits” would be declared in the ministerial transparency registers.
Previously questions had been raised over the funding of his Downing Street flat, a recently leaked emails showed Tory, donor, Lord Brownlow claimed to have paid £58,000 to the Conservative Party to “cover payments” the party had already made.
In a her round of daily interview Therese Coffey, the work and pensions secretary told Sky News “I don’t think the majority of the British public are in any way interested about wallpaper and sofas.” adding “I genuinely believe people are just more interested in getting on with their daily lives and the actions we’re taking to help them get back to a ‘new normal’ as it were post-COVID,”
Claims about the Downing Street flat and leaks about comments he made regarding lockdowns amid a mounting series of allegations Mr Johnson is having to face, along with the Greensill lobbying row at Westminster as well as his own text messages with billionaire businessman Sir James Dyson.